Relationship between suicidal risk, family communication and parental support in students enrolled at UNAH

Abstract

This study analyzed the prevalence of suicidal risk and its relationship with family communication and parental support in students aged 18 to 21 enrolled at the National Autonomous University of Honduras during 2021. The study used a quantitative relational design; the sample consisted of 280 university students. Of the total participants, 9.99 % had attempted suicide at least once, and 8.92 % reported having made plans to take their own life and wanted to die; 15 % planned it but did not carry out the attempt. The results indicate that none of the study variables vary significantly according to the student’s sex. In other words, both men and women reported similar levels of family cohesion, expressiveness, family conflicts, parental support, and suicidal risk. Compared to those who live without their parents, young people who cohabit with both parents report lower suicidal risk and greater family cohesion. Similarly, participants who live with both parents report higher demands and expectations than those who only live with their father. The relational analysis indicates that suicidal risk is positively related to family conflicts, while parental responsiveness, demands and expectations, cohesion, and expressiveness are inversely related to suicidal risk, demonstrating their potential protective factors.